Salary freeze aids Valley Stream districts

A freeze on teacher salaries for the 2012-13 school year went a long way in helping administrators plan next year’s budgets, according to officials in Districts 24, 30 and the Central High School District.

Teachers will not receive any pay raises. They will forgo their longevity-based step increments as well as any money for additional education credits. Bill Heidenreich, superintendent of the Central High School District, said personnel costs are about 70 percent of the budget. With a proposed spending plan of $103.2 million for next year, that’s a significant amount money — and a significant amount saved due to the salary freeze.

The high school district’s budget raises spending by 1.23 percent next year. Heidenreich said that while there are some layoffs in support areas, there should be no impact to students. I think it’s a very responsible budget that preserves opportunities for students,” he said. “Not one single program is eliminated, and you’re not finding that throughout Long Island.”

District 30 is eliminating a social worker, a cut that did draw some ire from the community and caused Trustee Cristobal Stewart to vote against adopting the budget. However, Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas said that district officials did listen to input from the community in planning the 2012-13 budget.

Overall, she said, the proposed $32.4 million spending plan maintains opportunities for students and supports the district’s strategic plan goals. “This budget maintains the integrity of our programs,” she said. “It fits in with the property tax cap. We think it’s really mindful and respectful of the community’s ability to pay.”

District 24’s $27.7 million budget maintains programs, according to Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale. “We’re very satisfied that we were able to develop a budget that is under state tax cap,” he said.

Two positions are being added next year, including a curriculum director and part-time art teacher. However, Fale said that the retirement of two teachers at the top of the pay scale will help fund these new jobs. “There are savings in other areas of the budget,” he said.